What Do Kids Need For School?

Whether your children are starting school for the first time or just returning after the summer holidays the big back to school shop is likely to be immanent and I don’t mind admitting that it’s not my favourite past time. I have been asked by a few fellow mums whose children start school for the first time this September “What do kids actually need for school?” as the list potential products, recommendations, and things to make life easier seems endless and therefore expensive! So I thought I’d put together a list of things that I believe you actually need as a mum of 3, one who has now finished school, one who is in high school and one who is in primary school.

School Bag

Most reception class children need a school bag or book bag which for our school needs to be bought direct from the the school website, so y advice is check this first if your child is a new starter. However once in year one the majority of children will ditch the school one and go for a back bag style as it’s easier to carry, more personal to their tastes and usually fits more in. This will then remain the case throughout both primary and secondary school. My advice would be to go for one with good sturdy straps, that can be carried on their back but also a handle on the top that they can use without it needing to drag it across the floor.

We’ve tried a few over the years and we are fans of the hype ones, they are good quality and come in so many different colours and styles.

Top tip – write your kids name inside somewhere just in case they do loose it or have the same as someone else. Or, decorate it with key chains which is something that is very popular in my daughters school and helps make the bags easily identifiable for a couple of pound extra.

Uniform

For us our children have to wear a basic school uniform in specific colours but none of it is named which makes shopping for uniform so much cheaper as we can shop around and get the deals. If you have younger children my advice would be shop the sales and the deals as most the uniform is the same. However as they get older, especially the boys, we found that the sizes were weird and going by age was not the right way to shop as they need to try them on. After lots of shopping around we found that Marks and Spencer’s were the best with a Tesco a close second.

Shoes

I don’t know what it is about my children and school shoes but they HATE trying them on. It’s as if they think I am going to suddenly send them back to school early just because they have them on their feet. Anyway, school shoes are one of the things that I always advise people to invest in. If possible avoid buying cheap, poorly made shoes as you will simply need to replace them again in a few weeks. Instead opt for a trusted company that specialises in children’s shoes and has foot health at the heart of everything they so. School shoes need to be comfy and durable because lets face it they wear them all day from walking to school to playing football at lunch and all the other climbing, jumping, skipping and racing they get up to.

Personally as a mum of 3 who has bought her fair share of school shoes over the years I would recommend ToeZone, who we have personally used time and time again and not just for school shoes but for their boots and casual shoes too.

Toezone have lots of lovely designs to choose from for both boys and girls. This year we have opted for the Lilo unicorn shoes that are available in sizes infant 6 to UK1. They are patent leather with magical unicorn detailing on the front, little silver stars on the back and a splash of glitter around the ankle, they also have an easy to use T bar velcro strap which is perfect for putting on and off themselves after PE and according to my daughter they are seriously comfy too.

For the boys we recommend the Minecraft shoes, available in sizes infant 8 to UK2. These shoes are have built in memory foam for extra comfort as well as double rip tape fastenings for easy use. The cool Minecraft detailing on the sides are going to make them the envy of all their mates too!

Top tip – for children in infant school avoid laces at all costs, even if your kids can tie laces, they wont, so don’t bother, stick to Velcro straps, rip tape fastenings or even buckles wherever possible.

PE bags

Most school will require a school branded PE bag that can only be bought from school but if they they can use any bags they want then I would recommend a drawstring bag, as this takes up less space on their peg. Supermarkets sell these in plain colours just personalise it a bit with their name or some stickers so they know which one is theirs. If you have a bit of a bigger budget and are worried about your child having the same PE bag as someone else and getting their kit mixed up or lost then you could always opt for personalised school items instead.

Lunch box

School diners are free for children in key stage one so many parents choose to opt for this and therefore don’t require a lunch box. However, if you do need one then you can find them in most supermarkets. I would recommend going for an insulated one as it will keep the food fresher for longer as they are not kept in a fridge at school but usually just put on a trolley in the class room. If you do buy one from a supermarket or well know shop then remember to name it as chances are there will be other children with the same one.

For those of you with fussy children I highly recommend the b.box for kids. These are plastic lunchboxes that have separate compartments for different food types and snacks which is great for keeping foods apart and ensuring they don’t mix, touch or get squashed. They have a rubber seal to keep the food fresher for longer and a double latch o prevent accidental openings plus they are easy to clean and also dishwasher safe. You can even choose ones that come with gel coolers to keep food even fresher and a flexible lid section for apples and oranges that always fit in a standard lunch box.

If you haven’t had to make lunch boxes up before, or this time you have a particularly fussy eater then check out these 34 delicious and easy lunch box ideas.

b.box also make insulated flip top water bottles that we have used many a time and highly recommend. They are leak proof, eco friendly and best of all they have large handles that make is easier for younger kids to carry alongside their lunch box down to the dinner hall.

Drinks bottle

Most schools, if not all, now require your child to take a drinks bottle for day time use as well as a separate one with their lunch box, these are kept in a box in the classroom and the kids can generally help themselves when they want a drink. This is a fantastic idea and gives parents peace of mind that their children will stay hydrated all day. Make sure your child picks something that they can easily identify, having them personalised is a great idea for those in the infants as it also helps with name recognition and prevents confusion when children have the same bottles. These bottles from Boutique Gifts are perfect as they have a number of deigns to pick from, they can be personalised with your child’s name and they are made from top quality aluminium with a screw top, secure drinking cap making them durable and easy to use for the younger ones.

Wellies

If your child is lucky enough to attend a school with a forest school section then it is highly likely you will be asked to leave a pair of wellies in school so that they can use them as and when they visit. If this is an option I highly recommend you do as if they don’t have wellies in school on the right day then they will likely go i wearing their school shoes and trust me they will get ruined!

When it comes to buying wellies for school it is best to invest in a good pair, chances are yo will not see them again till July when they bring them home at the end of the year so you need to know they are good quality, comfy, have some space for growing feet and most importantly are robust enough ot only for splashin in puddles but also for playing mud, climbing trees, jumping through leaves and twigs and running around for up to an hour at a time, maybe more depending on your school.

Our wellie recommendation has to be Muddy Puddles. We have used these for a number of years now and I can confirm they are built to last and are super comfy with 12 different pairs to choose from in a range of colours and designs ensuring there is something for every taste. We particularly love the Puddlestomper Wellies in Lilac Floral which are made from durable natural rubber. They are fully waterproof and built specifically to cope with active outdoor play with soft padded insoles for comfort and cleated outsole for reliable grip.

Waterproof Coat or Puddle suit

If you are child is lucky enough to have a forest school then as well as wellies that need to remain in school for the whole year you are also likely to be asked to provide them with either a waterproof coat or a puddle suit. Personally we recommend the puddle suit option because wellies a water proof coat and muddy puddles just equals wet tights, trousers, skirts for the remainder of the day and no child will learn well when cold and wet and no child should need to be careful when the opportunity to play in the mud arises so a puddle suit is the best option.

Again we recommend Muddy Puddles and their EcoSplash Fleece Lined Waterproof Puddle Suit which is available in thee colours, Pink Floral, Blue and Green Cave. This suit offers full-body (full school uniform) protection without restricting movement. It is waterproof to 10,000mm, providing reliable protection through heavy rain and long days spent outdoors. It has fully taped seams, a fluorine-free BIONIC-FINISH®ECO coating and recycled outer fabric to help keep rain firmly on the outside, while breathable fabric ensures comfort during active outdoor play.

On the inside it has a lovely soft fleece lining to keep your child warm on the cooler days and the long front zip makes dressing quick and easy meaning they can do it themselves from a young age.

Pencil case

Reception children will not require a pencil case however as they move into the older years they will and I love this Harry Potter one from the Works as it doubles up as a study wallet which is perfect for those that only take a slim school book with them. However when it comes to pencil cases I suggest just letting them pick one they like and fill it with a few cheap pencils and crayons as guaranteed they all get mixed up at school, so keep their decent colouring stuff for at home.

Healthy Snacks

Whether they are for lunch boxes, break times or end of day snacks you will find your children seem to graze all day and having healthy snacks that they enjoy are key. Of course we encourage fruit throughout the day too but when they crave something sweet we try and use snacks such as those by Fruit Bowl which can be bought in all main supermarkets in a range of flavours. They are tasty and sweet but are also one of your five a day, guilt free snacks are always a winner in our house. If yo shop in Aldi then they also do a similar range which my kids love just as much.

So that is everything that I think answers the question what do kids need for school? But if you think I have missed anything off then please do let me.

As for the parents……

Washing detergent

As well as sharing our recommendations for “what do kids need for school?” we thought we’d also share our biggest recommendation for the parents too and that’s a decent washing detergent! If your child wear white shirts or polo tops then you definitely need a good one that tackles the stains because some how the minute a child enters the school building in a brilliant white shirt it miraculously starts to turn grey!

Personally we love the range by ACE.